GVBOT member Brad Liski discusses doing business in B.C. in episode of Conversations That Matter
British Columbia is a wonderful jurisdiction to start a business.
“Small businesses benefit from a number of programs that get the wheels turning,” said Brad Liski, Greater Vancouver Board of Trade Director and member, in an episode of Conversations That Matter with host and veteran journalist Stuart McNish.
Brad Liski is the CEO of Tru Earth Environmental Products Inc., a fast-growing global enterprise, focusing on biodegradable household cleaners with a mission to eliminate plastic. In 2023, Tru Earth won the Business Distinct Award for Business Growth over $5M in Revenue.
Tru Earth’s success is a testament to British Columbian ingenuity and proof that when we focus on building economic growth, we can unlock the full potential of B.C.’s entrepreneurial spirit.
The company works to address the environmental impact of 30 billion loads of laundry annually around the world.
“We founded the company out of a desire to change the world, and Tru Earth is doing that, one laundry load at a time,” said Liski. “I’ve started 26 companies, and Tru Earth is the first one that wakes me up in the morning excited to make a difference.”
The company focused first on reducing the amount of plastic used in packaging laundry detergent. It then focused on reducing an entire jug of soap into a strip about the size of a business car. They tested the idea, and it was an instant success.
The company quickly grew and, in doing so, it ran into a series of government rules and regulations that thwarted its ability to scale up in British Columbia.
“We’ve had to move much of our manufacturing to other provinces as a result,” said Liski.
It was something that he says he didn’t want to do, but the economics of growing in B.C. worked against the company.
Brad Liski was invited to join Stuart McNish for a Conversation That Matters about a path forward that will support mid-market companies to grow and prosper in British Columbia.